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Nokia unveils new N-Gage
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/04...s_6093447.html
Nokia unveils new $99 N-Gage N-Gage QD drops MP3, triband phone support in favor of a cheaper, more usable device. Nokia has announced plans to deliver a redesigned version of its N-Gage gaming cell-phone. The new model, the N-Gage QD, has been built to address many of the design problems that plagued the original release. "There was some very specific feedback that got us focused on making changes to the device," Nada Usina told GameSpot today. Usina, General Manager of Entertainment & Media, North & South America, said the new model "addresses some of the mental barriers" that impeded acceptance of the device among the core group of active gamers Nokia originally targeted. The first generation N-Gage required you to remove the back cover and the battery simply to change a game. The QD streamlines this process by moving the MMC slot to the outside--sliding a game card into the slot will auto-launch the game. The D pad and buttons have been redesigned a bit, as well. The most noticeable control change is that the D pad no longer also functions as a button if you push it all the way in. That button has been moved to its own spot, directly to the right of the D pad. The screen, while still vertically oriented, has a much cleaner look to it than the old N-Gage's screen, resulting in slightly sharper visuals. Finally, the QD's speaker and microphone are on the front of the unit instead of on the side, allowing phone users to speak into the device normally, as opposed to the classic N-Gage's side-talking configuration. Usina warranted Nokia has having reacted "relatively quickly" to what was arguably uniform resistance to the original device. On the eve of the launch, Usina said that Nokia and the QD team were intent on making this upcoming launch more successful that last October's dismal first step in to the core gaming marketplace. She said Nokia intended to "spend as much time as possible educating and being educated." Usina declined to specify the extent of product and user testing that went in to the redesigned unit, nor would she comment on the costs allocated to such pre-release research, but she did admit that research was much more extensive than what went into the product's first launch. She added that the relaunch "had the highest level of management attention" among top-level Nokia staff. (more) |
:lol:
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Well, that design looks better, I guess... couldn't be much worse. It seems like they should just put the whole concept to rest though. The original N-gage was an instant punchline, and no matter how many redesigns it goes through, consumers will always associate it with the bombing it took last year. Hell, if they took an SP, and slapped a sticker saying "N-Gage" on it, people tstill wouldn't buy it
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Next up a redesigned Virtual Boy!
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You can paint it, dress it and color it however you like, it's still not going to sell because it's total and utter CRAP!
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no side takin'=no buy!
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I actually kind of like the redesign (puts on flame jacket). That doesn't mean that I'm going to buy one, but for $99 if someone needed a new phone, why not. They took out the useless FM radio, and MP3 player and uped battery life. Although most of the games are crap, it's at the same price point of any other color cell phone these days. Plus Activision just announced a Call of Duty release for N-Gage later this year. It could be promising.
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Okay, so they drop the phone support, why are there still over a dozen buttons? i.e. the numberpad. :hscratch:
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It's still a phone. It just doesn't have triband support.
Originally posted by Michael Corvin Okay, so they drop the phone support, why are there still over a dozen buttons? i.e. the numberpad. :hscratch: |
New design looks slick. Much better..
Now.. if they'd focus on getting some at least DECENT games running on the system. |
If every game for the system asks the user to "press start" you damn well better have a start button by the second redesign of the system.
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For $199? Count me in, again!
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Some people just don't know when to quit.
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I have the original N-Gage and bought it primarily for phone use - I love the speakerphone feature!
Playing games on it was just icing on the cake. Reception on this phone is SO MUCH better than my Ericsson T68. If this comes out at $99 with some promotion with AT&T, then i'm all over it. |
Originally posted by juanmgonzalez Reception on this phone is SO MUCH better than my Ericsson T68. |
Well... they should've dropped all phone support and just put out a game-only handheld for really cheap. They're gonna be in real big trouble when the PSP comes out... as if they aren't in big enough trouble to begin with.
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Originally posted by juanmgonzalez I have the original N-Gage and bought it primarily for phone use - I love the speakerphone feature! Playing games on it was just icing on the cake. Reception on this phone is SO MUCH better than my Ericsson T68. If this comes out at $99 with some promotion with AT&T, then i'm all over it. |
Oops! Looks like the screen is still the wrong way around... :lol:
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Originally posted by cheapskate Oops! Looks like the screen is still the wrong way around... :lol: |
Originally posted by PixyJunket The screen is the RIGHT way for classic arcade games and shooters. :up: |
How many games are required in order for it to be considered a library? Isn't this their entire lineup - according to their site?
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon™: Jungle Storm Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Moto GP Super Monkey Ball Pandemonium Crash Nitro Kart Tomb Raider Sega Rally Championship Red Faction Pocket Kingdom: Own The World NCAA Football 2004 MLB Slam! Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer FIFA Soccer 2004 Virtua Tennis Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Team Stealth Action Sonic N Requiem of Hell Rayman 3 Puzzle Bobble VS Puyo Pop Operation Shadow Alien Front Ashen Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 The Sims Bustin' Out |
Originally posted by Trigger How many games are required in order for it to be considered a library? Impressive though... as far as selection goes, they're creeping up on Atari Jaguar standards! ;) |
I think there's more, ebgames lists 40 titles, but some are pre-played, so there might be some duplicates.
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Doesn't seem that bad to me. The first N-Gage was crap, this one looks a lot more practical.
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I'm still amazed that the previous design got through focus group testing. Remove the battery to change the game?! Talk into the side? !
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